Turkey: Death toll from coronavirus rises to 131

By Burak Bir

ANKARA (AA) - As many as 23 more people died of coronavirus in Turkey in the past 24 hours, according to the country's Health Ministry on Sunday, bringing the death toll to 131.

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases surged to 9,217, as 1,815 more people tested positive for the virus in the past 24 hours, according to the ministry.

A total of 105 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals since the beginning of the outbreak, according to the announced data, which said 568 patients were being treated at intensive care units.

Also, 9,982 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours and the number of total tests carried out so far stood at 65,446.

After first appearing in Wuhan, China, last December, the novel coronavirus has spread to at least 177 countries and territories, according to data compiled by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

The data shows more than 685,600 cases have been reported worldwide since last December, with the death toll over 32,100 and more than 145,700 recoveries.